15 october 2024 : A major chess scandal emerged when 22-year-old Ukrainian-born Grandmaster Kirill Shevchenko was expelled from the Spanish Team Championships for allegedly using a hidden mobile phone in the restroom during his games. If found guilty by the FIDE Ethics Commission, Shevchenko, ranked World No. 69 and a top 100 player, would be one of the highest-ranked players involved in a cheating incident.
The action against Shevchenko, who became a Grandmaster at 14 and now represents Romania, was initiated after Francisco Vallejo, his Round 2 opponent, raised concerns about his prolonged absences from the board. When questioned, Shevchenko claimed he was unwell and needed frequent restroom visits. However, organizers grew suspicious and a search led to the discovery of a phone in a restroom cubicle.
A note was found near the phone, stating it was left for someone to use later. Handwriting analysis showed similarities to Shevchenko’s scoresheets, and the phone’s time zone was set to Romania’s. In response, the Spanish Chess Federation annulled Shevchenko’s results from the first two rounds, converting them into forfeits. Fellow competitor GM Bassim Amin noted that Shevchenko’s frequent absences from the playing hall raised concerns early in the tournament.
